Feeder for fodder cutters



Sept 1, 1953 w. H. oBERwom-MAN `FEEDER FOR FODDER CUTTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJune 7, 1949 SPt 1, 1953 w, H. OBERWORTMAN 2,650,745

FEEDER FR FODDER CUTTERS Filed June 7, 194'9 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. l, `1953 FEEDER FOR FODDER CUTTERS Walter H. Oberwortman, Lamar, Colo., assignor to W. H. O. Alfalfa Milling Company, Lamar,

Colo.

Application June 7, 1949, Serial No. 97,695

The following specification relates to a novel feeder for fodder cutters and similar agricultural machinery. It is particularly well adapted for the harvesting of forage crops, such as clover, lespedeza, alfalfa and the like.

t is a practice of long standing to comminute fodder crops, such as those mentioned above, in the eld and to pack them compactly in bags for .transportation and storage. However, these crops are extremely bulky and awkward to handie. It is diicult to bring them rapidly and compactly to the machine which does the cutting or grinding.

I have devised a feeding means by which such fodder material can be fed rapidly to the machine which cuts or grinds it.

t is also an object of my invention to increase the capacity of the device to receive the bulk material and compact it and feed it to the cutter.

In accordance with the necessity of field practice, it is a further object of my invention to simplify the structure to the utmost degree so that no particular skill will be needed for use or maintenance of the equipment.

A still further object of my invention is to construct the device in such a manner that it will have the utmost ruggedness to withstand hard service and rough treatment.

My improved machine is adapted for operation in conjunction with existing harvesting equipment and the common types of portable power plants.

Among the objects of my invention is to shield the operating means from the material being fed, but at the same time leave it accessible for maintenance, adjustment and repair.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred form, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved feeder;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, part of the rim being broken away to show parts in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the equipment taken on the line 3 3 in Figure 2 and Figure 4 is a similar transverse vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Broadly speaking, the feeder consists of a stationary hopper, the iioor of which opens into the cutting or grinding machine. 'I'he hopper has means consisting of a rotary drum with an enlarged upper throat to receive the loose bulky forage crop; This drum is caused to rotate and 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-410) by means of internal ribs or vanes the material is given a rotary movement resulting in it being compacted and fed to the cutting mechanism.

As illustrated in the drawings, I have shown the feeder to be mounted upon a vehicle, such as a trailer or the like. This trailer has a platform or iioor 5 carried on springs 6 and a pair of wheels l.

Beneath the oor 5 there is a longitudinal power shaft t suitably driven from, a portable power plant not shown. The shaft 8 is carried in bearings 9. The shaft 8 passes through the shell cr concave portion I0 of a cutter or grinder. rlhe latter has been shown as a rotary cylinder :I armed with teeth I2. These teeth cooperate with similar ones 40 on the inner face of the concave to comminute, shear or otherwise grind the rough fodder.

The hopper I3 has a floor or bottom I4 which rests upon a series of posts I5 arranged in a circle upon the floor .5. The bottom I4 is cut away, as shown in Figure 2, to expose the rotary cylinder l i of the cutter.

The side wall I6 of the hopper I3 is stationary resting upon the bottom I4. Surrounding the side wall i6 and resting on the outer periphery of the bottom I4 is a series of vertical posts I'I. These posts extend above the upper edge of the side wall I6. The tops of the posts Il support a horizontal ring I8.

A series of bearings I9 is mounted upon the ring i8 and one is above each post Il. These bearings carry rollers 20.

A rotary drum 2I nts loosely within the upper edge of the side wall I6, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4. This drum 2i has a horizontal track 22 in the form of an angleiron or the like. The track 22 rests upon the rollers 2li and revolves above them.

Above the track 22 the drum is provided with a toothed ring gear 23.

A signicant part of the improvement is the wide aring rim 24 extending above and around the drum 2| and overhanging the ring gear 23 and the bearings I9.

The inner face of the drum 2| is provided with a series of internal ribs 25. These ribs are preferably of angle-iron construction and extend inwardly far enough to be engaged by the loose bulky fodder.

Centrally of the bottom I 4 there is provided an upstanding boss 2E which forms a center bearing. A cylindrical guide 2l is mounted axially on the center bearing 26. The guide extends above per bottom, fodder engaging means on the guide, and means for rotating the drum.

WALTER H. QBERWORTMAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent 5 Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Gandolfo Aug. 31, 1875 1 Number 6 Name Date Sharpneck Dec. 28, 1886 Kreiss Dec. 19, 1899 Williamson Jan. 29, 1907 Dufour June 23, 1908 Bond Dec. 21, 1909 Ayars July 10, 1928 Whitney Nov. 12, 1929 Morris Aug. 24, 1943 Bingham Dec. 27, 1949 

